QC Marathon - Live Uncommon

This is how it’s done.

LIVE UNCOMMON presents five faces of the Movement. Representing the LU big-picture, long-term Mission of Impact – developing foundational Starter Programs for inner city communities – is the LU Relay Team.

Built fast, strong, and Uncommon are Bettendorf’s ANNA PEER, Davenport Central’s MAKAYLA BUCK, Davenport North’s CARA REGAN, Davenport West’s TAYLER OSBORN, and Pleasant Valley’s MADDIE REYNOLDS.

These girls will run under the LU flag in the Marathon Relay at this Sunday’s QC Marathon as proud representatives of their own, their schools’ teams’, and LU’s commitment to eliminating social divide between communities.

They are leading the way.

We are watching. We are cheering. We are inspired.

Donate to the LU Fund.

While you're at it, gear up in some specially-themed Quad City Marathon Live Uncommon gear!

Check out our QC Marathon Fan Gear!

LU Race Team in Action

The highly esteemed LU Race Team hits the ground running today.

Well, some running, some swimming..........

Katie Gaffney --
Wife
Teacher
Coach
Super Smiley Nice Girl
Marathoner
Doin her 26.2 thing tomorrow - June 16 - in Duluth
Katie's running game is ON. This isn't her first Marathon - it's actually her 4th - but it will be her FASTEST when she surpasses her goal time of 3:25
She is well trained and tuned up to Get It Done.
Katie is one of 25 awesome LU Race Teamers - which means she not only does her fast thing at the 7 LUSeries Races, but is also responsible for raising a minimum of $700 that will doled out the Causes behind the Series Races - CASI St. Pat's, Run for Renewal, Torchlight Parade, Race for the Cure, Moonlight Chase, Ouch Race, and Quad City Marathon.
You can help Katie reach her goal - seriously EVERY DOLLAR helps to get her there - by clicking on her photo right here and donating a few bucks. It's a good thing and she and the Causes will so appreciate your taking that step. You'll feel good about it too.

Josiah Campbell --
Husband
Dad
Professional
100 pound shedder
Ultra Nice Guy
Triathlete
Josiah is one of several LU Race Teamers taking to the water tomorrow morning at the Quad City Triathlon. Josiah competed in his first ever Triathlong recently at the Bluff Creek Triathlon in Ogden where he was 3rd Place Overall in the Sprint Triathlon Clydesdale Division! Nice! Wish him good fortune tomorrow as he does his thing at West Lake Park.
Josiah is also a LU Race Teamer which means he, like Katie Gaffney, is running in the 7 Series Races and raising money for the Causes. What can we say -- Josiah's a cool guy.
You can donate to Josiah's Race Team effort by following the link which is his photo right here.

Chad Uhde --
Husband
Dad
Teacher and Athletic Director
One of the World's Good Guys
Triathlete, Runner, Wrestler, Water Ski Stud, All-Around Athlete
Chad is also competing the QC Triathlon tomorrow morning after his Tri debut at the Bluff Creek Triathlon in Ogden recently. Chad finished 1st Overall in the Sprint Triathlon Clydesdale Division and looks to tomorrow to be faster, stronger than ever. We are confident he will be.
Yup, Chad is an LU Race Teamer too. He's doin the 7 Race Series thing too and raising the dough. Help him out, will ya? He's a great guy and these are great Causes you're supporting.
Follow the Chad's photo link to his page and GIVE BACK.

Rick Solis --
Husband
Dad
Jack of All Trades
Give-You-The-Shirt-Off-His-Back Kind of Guy
Triathlete, Life-Long Super Athlete
Rick joins fellow LU Race Teamers tomorrow at West Lake in Davenport for his veteran run at the QC Triathlon. Rick has competed in Triathlons all over the midwest as he continues to chase down the challenges of the Event. Transitioning from the Sport of Running to the Sport of Triathlon in 1999 -- 13 years ago -- Rick has done at least one Tri a year ever since. Good fortune to Rick tomorrow!
Rick would be grateful for any help you could lend to his LU Race Team effort - he is also running the Races and raising the dollars. Help him out if you want that warm and fuzzy GIVE feeling.
Here's Rick's photo right here is all ready for the clicking.

Jay Gates --
Son
Professional
One of THE Coolest Guys You Can Come Across - Seriously, you gotta meet this guy.
Triathlete and Runner of All Distances
Jay takes on the QC Triathlon tomorrow with his cohorts on the LU Race Team. Jay just bought a new bike - new to him anyway - for the endeavor and is all set to do his thing. Okay, so Jay --- what can we say about this guy? We dig, everybody digs, Jay. Okay, so one morning about a month ago, he is spotted out running with the LU Race Team on their Saturday morning train. He probably did, oh, at least 10 miles before 8:00AM. Then we hear he's out on the Track out in Eldridge running mile after mile with LU Race Team Captain John O'Brien just to support John on his 24 Hour Run. Nice. So, then, the next week we hear Jay just up and joined Leadville 100 Man, John Byrne, in his run - non-stop run - from Davenport to Wilton or somewhere. Wherever they ran to, it was a full 56 miles on the road, on their feet. Wow. That's Jay. He just DOES stuff. Always there to support whoever, whenever, wherever. Yup.
Come on now, you gotta help Jay in his LU Race Team effort. He's your kinda guy. Here's his photo that will take you there.

Aaron Maurer --
Husband
Dad
Teacher
LU Race Team Road Coach
Can Look A Little Mean and Tough in his Photos, but Is One of the Nicest Guys Around
Triathlete, Marathoner
Aaron competes tomorrow at the QC Triathlon at West Lake Park in Davenport also. Also, also was the Bluff Creek Triathlon in Ogden, Aaron's first attempt at the Tri. Also, also, also Aaron came away with a title -- Olympic Triathlon Clydesdale Division Champion. Unbelievable. And yet, so believable. Aaron is the LIVE UNCOMMON Race Team Road Coach because his dedication to training smartly has earned him the position. Inspired by his mentor, Jeff Paul, Aaron is a worthy protoge - LIVING UNCOMMON on the Race Course and off. We are excited to watch Aaron get it done tomorrow.
Help the man. Aaron is appreciative of every dollar you can give to his Race Team effort. Here's Aaron's photo to make it happen.

Jen Paul --
Wife
Mom
Professional
Uncommon Girl #1 aka The Seed
Triathlete, Elite Runner
Yep - that's no typo - Jen Paul is doing the QC Triathlon tomorrow. In case you don't know Jen, she is fast, fast, fast. Like, super-fast. Last week, when accompanying husband Jeff at a Tri in Kansas, Jen entered and won a 5K there. Like not winning the Overall Female Race, no -- the Overall Overall Mens Race. She sets records wherever she goes and has the respect of the 2nd placers everywhere so goes too -- she is the most gracious Champion. Encouraging, positive, kind, generous.
Jen have never competed in a Triathlon before, but she is tomorrow because....she can. Pretty cool. She is just doing it. We will be there to be inspired. Again. Good luck, Jen!
Jen is, of course, an LU Race Teamer and you can donate to her effort by clicking on her photo.

and Finally...

Jeff Paul --
Husband
Dad
Teacher
Uncommon Guy #1 aka The LU Guy aka Super Nice Guy
Professional Triathlete, IRONMAN
Jeff Paul is going for Overall Champion Crown tomorrow at the Quad City Triathlon. He is ready. Eyes will be on Jeff. Eyes of the crowd. Eyes of fellow competitors. Not because they are intimidated. Even though they might be - he is VERY good. But Jeff does not intimidate in a negative way. Eyes will be on him looking UP to him. In Respect. In Admiration. In Friendship. If the first time you meet Jeff is on a Race Course, you will most likely see him with a stern looking face. Intense face. You might think, whoa, this guy is mean. On the contrary. Jeff IS intense, absolutely, on the Race Course. And in his Training. He knows what it takes to win. He trains hard. He also is a devoted partner to wife, Jen. He also is a fully-engaged dad to two toddlers. He also is a full-time Junior High Teacher who is adored by his students. He is also the nicest, most humble, encouraging, kind, generous normal guy you can have the good fortune to know. Just like everyone else on this page - just like YOU - he does it all. He strives day and night for the Balance. Jeff is a Champion in every sense.
And also just like everyone else on this page, Jeff is a LIVE UNCOMMON Race Teamer running the 7 Races, raising the funds for the 7 Causes. Here's Jeff's photo link.

Send the good vibe to the LU Race Team IN ACTION today.

look who ran with us!

LU came out in fast form at the QC Marathon on September 25.

Beginning and ending in beautiful downtown Moline, Illinois, this fast, flat and fun 26.2 mile course winds runners through four burroughs of the Quad Cities - Moline, Bettendorf, Davenport, Rock Island.

Runners cross three bridges over the mighty Mississippi - all runners heading over I-74...then 26.2 runners heading back over the Centennial....13.1 runners taking the historic Arsenal.

Three races share a gun start, or rather, a cannon start -- the FULL, the HALF, and the super fast 5K.

We present to you -- YOU -- LIVE UNCOMMON....

STEPHANIE MIGAWA chases husband TROY to the Finish in the 5K

MARY BETH MURRY chases down LU teammate, lifelong friend, and Russell Construction boss JIM RUSSELL in the 5K. She caught him RIGHT at the Finish Line!!!

In the HALF....

ANNA RAYA conquers the HALF in a fast 2:02:09 - right ON, ANNA!

ALICIA VILLAREAL Dreams It...Lives It in 2:21:46! Great work, ALICIA!!

DEREK ELLIOTT does his thing in a quick 1:58:28! Way to take down the 13.1, DEREK!

Hey, how 'bout ERIN? LU BHSXC Charter Team Coach, ERIN FLYNN, does more than "talk the talk" -- hitting her goal time in the HALF - an impressive 1:45:17! Way to "walk the walk", Coach!

One of the many committed Coaches with LU PVGXC Charter Team, JOSH HOFFMAN knocks out 13.1 miles in a cool 1:48:04! Well done, Coach!

Wow - JOSH PAUL does it all -- getting the HALF done in a sweet 1:59:58! Josh has also competed in several TRIs this summer and has just raised $300 for hunger awareness through his effort at the QC CROP HUNGER WALK -- Go, JOSH! We salute you and your commitment to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Okay...this is what we're talkin about --- check out LUKE RAYMOND -- gets it done in the HALF, coming in with a fast 1:59:29 -- poses for a quick pic for our steadfast LU Photo Crew, PIX by SOLIS, then turns immediately around, in true LU fashion, to cheer on fellow runners. NICE!

EMILY RAYMOND, makes it look easy and fashionable to get in a quick 13.1 miles on a beautiful Sunday morning -- 2:04:26!

LUKE and EMILY, we like your style -- you are LU through and through!

KELAN MOYLAN cruises to a 1:37:49 in the HALF -- Wow, way to go, KELAN!!

Okay, Little Uncommon AILA MOYLAN maybe didn't run the HALF with dad, but she was the show stopper at the QC Marathon Pasta Dinner Saturday night and we just can't help ourselves -- we've got to post this image of the Future of the Movement once again....

Talk about leading by example -- JANE WHEELER, Head Coach of PVGXC - 1st ever LU Charter Team - truly LIVES UNCOMMON.

She and husband, KENNY WHEELER are...absolutely devoted to eachother and to their beautiful daughter MAYA...dedicated full-time professionals and coaches, much more than mentors....outstanding athletes in their own right....give of themselves to the World day in and out...emphasize and realize the beauty and necessity of Balance.

The WHEELERS came out to the Pasta Dinner Saturday night in support of the Y1R and the Movement and then JANE did her thing in the HALF Sunday morning -- coming in an amazing 1:27:11 and 7th Woman Overall!! Jane, LU tips its hat to YOU!

PHIL PANCRAZIO makes 13.1 happen in a quick 1:54:43! PHIL is an avid runner, triathlete, photographer extraordinaire who LU is proud to call Charter Member...Nicely done, PHIL!

NICK VILLAREAL smokes the 13.1 course in 1:32:53 -- now that is movin........ Great work, NICK!

MICHELLE RUSSELL runs the first leg of the Marathon Relay on a team with her daughter MADIE HART and decides to keep going to finish the HALF. She gets some good LU love from LU photo crew PIX by SOLIS. Gotta love the love!

Now, this brings us to our FULL Marathon runners...get ready to be even more impressed...

Newlyweds Tim and Sarah Corcoran take on their first-ever Marathon (chose THE BEST marathon as their first!) in a very impressive 4:30 -- WAY TO GO, MR. AND MRS. CORCORAN!!! We applaud how you truly LIVE UNCOMMON -- live, love, run together -- very cool.

NICK SACCO flies to the finish of his 26.2 journey in a fast 3:33:17 - very, very nice! Believe it or not, this is a short distance for NICK -- he ran 34 miles for St. Jude's earlier this summer. And that's just how your Teammate NICK rolls -- running for the good, changing the World, Making a Difference. NICK, we dig ya.....

And here you see LU MVP LAUREL DARREN lending support to NICK and all runners passing her way. Ahh, so much good stuff to say about LAUREL... we'll save her for a little later...

First-time Marathoner AARON MAURER at Mile 9 of 26.2 -- looking good, AARON! AARON took down the Marathon in a very sweet 3:54:22 - wow, way to GET IT DONE, AARON!!

"Here is my QC Marathon Race Report from my personal blog.

What an amazing race, the support was awesome, especially from my wife and kids who kept showing up at just the right moments and from Jeff Paul who was riding along the last 6 miles shouting out my splits to the 4 hour pace group and giving me encouragement, he really showed what Live Uncommon is all about that day. I was lucky enough to run a good portion of the race with fellow LU member Aaron Maurer whom I had met the night before at the pasta dinner. It was great to run with Aaron and I’m glad I was able to catch up with him at the end so we could finish together. I was able to finish under my goal of 4 hours at 3:54:15 bettering my time from last year by over 30 minutes. It was also really awesome to see fellow LU members Phil Pancrazio and Jen Paul cheering people in at the finish line after they finished their half marathons.

Next up for me is a Spartan Sprint on Oct. 15 and my first attempt at an Ultra distance at the Wildcat 50k on Nov. 13.

Until then…

…do today what others won’t, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t."

Josiah Campbell

JOSIAH, you are a true inspiration. Keep doin your thing out there.....

WQAD CHANNEL 8 NEWS runs two Marathon Relay teams in the QC Marathon! Okay, so they handily deliver these miles.....how awesome are they delivering the News? Seriously -- tune in...... Best choice in town, no question.

Team TENEMOS HAMBRE (WE ARE HUNGRY) took down the Marathon relay-style - teammates JULIA FLYNN (Pumpkin Spice), ALI STEIDL (Red Velvet Cake), ANIA PODGORNY (Onion Pierogy), MADIE HART (Strawberry Crepe), MICHELLE RUSSELL.(Yellowtail Scallion). Loads of fun (and later food) was had on this day!!!

KERRY DOUCETTE and girls put in a prepatory 20 getting warmed up for the Chicago Marathon in which they raised funds for Special Olympics -- way to go, girls!! Showin how it's done LU-style!!

Okay, now....take a look at LU MVP LAUREL DARREN. She and fellow LU ELLONIA YENNNEY and their QC ROLLERS teammates propelled five Pammy's Kids in wheelchairs over the entire Marathon course! Wow. We can barely get over the goodness of their effort. QC ROLLER girls, we are inspired by YOU.....